A feed device for automatically feeding a material web from a first stretching unit to a second stretching unit is disclosed having a conveying device configured to transfer at least one strip of the material web that exits the first stretching unit to a transport device of the second stretching unit.

A device (1) is used for introducing a running material web (3) into a tenter machine. The device (1) comprises at least one tiltable cheek (12) which receives the material web (3). This cheek (12) is tilted by at least one control element (13) by means of at least one actuator (19). This control element (13) engages on the one hand on the cheek (12) and on the other hand on the frame (17). Angle sensors (32) record the angle between the cheek (12) and the control element (13) as well as between the frame (17) and the control element (13). These angles are delivered to calculation means (66′) for calculating the difference of the two recorded angles.

A device (1) is used for introducing a running material web (3) into a tenter machine. The device (1) comprises at least one tiltable cheek (12) which receives the material web (3). This cheek (12) is tilted by at least one control element (13) by means of at least one actuator (19). This control element (13) engages on the one hand on the cheek (12) and on the other hand on the frame (17). Angle sensors (32) record the angle between the cheek (12) and the control element (13) as well as between the frame (17) and the control element (13). These angles are delivered to calculation means (66′) for calculating the difference of the two recorded angles.

A handling device having a holder for gripping web-shaped packaging material, which holder has a curvature in the longitudinal direction of the holder. When the packaging material is gripped by the handling device, a free end section of the packaging material is arched in the transverse direction of the packaging material and projects out from the handling device to be inserted into a processing station of a packaging machine.

A feed assist apparatus for a flexible sheet material spreader, comprising a first arm attached at a first end to one side of the material spreader, a second arm attached at a first end to another side of the material spreader, and a material retainer attached at a second end of each of the first and second arms, the material retainer having a first configuration for feeding flexible sheet material there-through and a second configuration for retaining flexible sheet material. The first arm and the second arm are moveable together from a first position adjacent a flexible material supply and a second position adjacent entry to the material spreader, and the material retainer is in the second configuration when the moveable arms are in the first position, and the material retainer is in the first configuration when the moveable arms are in the second position.

A feed assist apparatus for a flexible sheet material spreader, comprising a first arm attached at a first end to one side of the material spreader, a second arm attached at a first end to another side of the material spreader, and a material retainer attached at a second end of each of the first and second arms, the material retainer having a first configuration for feeding flexible sheet material there-through and a second configuration for retaining flexible sheet material. The first arm and the second arm are moveable together from a first position adjacent a flexible material supply and a second position adjacent entry to the material spreader, and the material retainer is in the second configuration when the moveable arms are in the first position, and the material retainer is in the first configuration when the moveable arms are in the second position.

A feed assist apparatus for a flexible sheet material spreader, comprising a first arm attached at a first end to one side of the material spreader, a second arm attached at a first end to another side of the material spreader, and a material retainer attached at a second end of each of the first and second arms, the material retainer having a first configuration for feeding flexible sheet material there-through and a second configuration for retaining flexible sheet material. The first arm and the second arm are moveable together from a first position adjacent a flexible material supply and a second position adjacent entry to the material spreader, and the material retainer is in the second configuration when the moveable arms are in the first position, and the material retainer is in the first configuration when the moveable arms are in the second position.

To form a web conveying path that bends and conveys a web, a web conveying device has: a plurality of foil supporting members that are disposed at prescribed intervals in a conveying direction of the web and that support a surface of the web that is being conveyed; a foil extending member stretched between the foil supporting members, which pulls an end of the web downstream in the conveying direction of the web such that the web extends from a starting point to an end point of the web conveying path that is formed by the foil supporting members; and a moving mechanism that moves the foil extending member from the starting point to the end point of the web conveying path.

To form a web conveying path that bends and conveys a web, a web conveying device has: a plurality of foil supporting members that are disposed at prescribed intervals in a conveying direction of the web and that support a surface of the web that is being conveyed; a foil extending member stretched between the foil supporting members, which pulls an end of the web downstream in the conveying direction of the web such that the web extends from a starting point to an end point of the web conveying path that is formed by the foil supporting members; and a moving mechanism that moves the foil extending member from the starting point to the end point of the web conveying path.

A bow spreader bar provides lateral stress on a web of plastic film as it travels past. An elongated arcuate bow member is supported on a rotatable support bar that can be rotated by a first actuator to adjust pitch angle of the bow member relative to the plane of the film. A second actuator mounted on a midportion of the rotatable bar has a rod connected to a center part of the arcuate member and adjusts the amount of bow or arc of the arcuate member. A remote control arrangement has a receiver coupled to the first and second actuators and a remote transmitter permitting an operator to control the pitch angle and amount of bow from a location remote from the film processing equipment.